Smart Grid LAB Hessian
SGLive - Smart Grid LAB Live
The SGLive project deals with the digitalization of distribution grids and combines the expertise of three partners. It builds on the predecessor project "Smart Grid LAB Hessen". The existing laboratory is being expanded by Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences to include active and secure control processes and resilient operating concepts. A particular focus is on the development of a cyber security architecture. The concepts and methods will then be implemented and evaluated in the laboratory.
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Project management: |
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Partner: |
Hochschule Darmstadt (FB EIT and FB I) Ingenierubüro Pfeffer GmbH House of Energy |
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Duration: |
11.2025 - 10.2028 |
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Total volume: |
€1.68 million |
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Funding volume: |
€977,000 |
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Funded by: |
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) / Hess. Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy, Transport, Housing and Rural Areas |
The energy, mobility and heating transition requires a change in the way existing electrical distribution grids are operated. Increasing fluctuations in decentralized generation and consumption can quickly lead to grid overload. Distribution grid operators must therefore digitalize their low-voltage grids in order to ensure the necessary flexibility for the energy transition. The implementation of smart grids can reduce grid expansion, but large amounts of data are generated that need to be processed, forwarded and used securely.
This is where the SGLive project comes in: The existing laboratory is being specifically retrofitted with smart meter gateways, among other things. The Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology is developing a control platform that allows it to react flexibly to the data from the Flexsumers. In addition, an operating concept is being developed to upgrade the local network station to an "outpost of the control room". It independently and automatically prevents and detects bottlenecks, intervenes if necessary and keeps the grid stable without restricting the flexsumer. The control platform and operating concept are implemented and evaluated in the realistic environment of the Smart Grid LAB.
The IT department examines and identifies the need for retrofitting from a cyber security perspective. Questions of authentication and authorization are answered and security concepts are implemented that can be upgraded for future standards. The computer scientists develop cyber security solutions for a resilient distribution network and use them to design a comprehensive security architecture that is implemented and evaluated.
Ingenieurbüro Pfeffer is responsible for the practical implementation of the developed concepts for retrofitting, operation and security. On this basis, it is expanding the existing business model for the holistic digitalization of local grid stations , which also enables smaller grid operators to operate an intelligent distribution grid flexibly and securely. Outside of the project volume, Ingenieurbüro Pfeffer is making its premises and infrastructure available for this project. This includes its own local grid station, PV system, battery storage and e-charging stations.
Objectives
The overarching goal is a comprehensive concept for transforming the passive low-voltage grid into an actively controllable and resilient smart grid. Both operational management and smart metering are part of the investigations.
The project pursues four objectives:
- New approaches to the resilient, optimized, data-driven operation of electricity grids with the integration of renewable energies and sector coupling
- Cyber security solutions for a resilient distribution grid integrating measurement and metering
- Implementation, integration and evaluation of the operating concept and cyber security in the laboratory under realistic operating conditions
- Derivation of business models for offering a holistic solution for smaller distribution grid operators